By Lindsay Kluge

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February 11, 2021

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As we all continue to adjust our lives to a continual state of quarantine and social distancing, many have experienced a sharp decline in their mental health over the past year. Our emotional health and mental wellbeing is extremely important to tend to, and everyone, at some point, has had the experience of struggling in this area and noticing the physical effects. In the coming weeks and months, be mindful to allow time and attention to supporting yourself with mental health practices, and check in with those close to you if they are in need of some support, too.

Below are several daily practices that may be helpful in supporting mental health and emotional wellbeing that you can do at home. Some of these simple practices only take a few moments. The most important factor here is to check in with yourself, and notice what you need, when you need it. We all have many things to juggle in life these days. If 5 minutes per day to practice a positive mental health habit is all you have, that’s a great place to begin.

Gratitude Practice

Taking a mindful moment during the day to reflect on the things we are grateful for is a genuine mood booster. In the morning after waking, or before going to bed at night, begin to journal at least one thing you are grateful for in your life or something that you are grateful happened that day. This can be a shared exercise with the entire family.

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Nature Immersion

Spending time in nature has been proven time and time again to be good for our overall psyche and mental health. The calmness and connectedness we feel after a few minutes of nature immersion is unparalleled, and it has been shown that lack of nature connection is actually detrimental to our health long term. This new scientific field of ecotherapy consistently shows that time spent in nature can reduce mood disorders such as anxiety and depression and even lower blood pressure, especially as we age.

Allow yourself 20-30 minutes each day to be outdoors, be it on a long walk in the woods, out of your front stoop, in your garden, spending time near the bradford pear on your city street, or simply watching the sky.

Read More: Mood and Nature 

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Community Connection

Humans are social creatures, and feeling isolated can have detrimental effects in our mental health. Although we are still not able to gather safely, we can reach out va phone and letter to those we love, and those within our immediate community. If you’ve been thinking about someone that you have not connected with in a while, pick up the phone and reach out, or check in on a neighbor or community member that may need extra support right now.

Read More: Connectedness & Health

Personal Nourishment

When we neglect ourselves for the sake of caring for those around us, we may quickly fall into dis-ease and imbalance. Have you noticed that over the past year (or more), you have neglected to take care of yourself, or have been feeling unseen? Even the small act of taking a longer shower, going for a walk alone, being fed a meal cooked by someone else, or taking time for your yoga or meditation practice weekly plays a positive role in our own personal nourishment and feelings of deservingness.

For more personalized support with tending to your emotional and mental well being, consider making an appointment with one of the naturopathic doctors at Richmond Natural Medicine.